Folks may not realize that the Peninsula has developed into a hot spot for Korean food, with national favorites offered in a variety of seemingly mainstream American restaurants.

Denbigh’s Korean community attracted Andrew Lee, 35, to move from Richmond about five years ago. Late last year, he opened Crave Wings, at 13633 Warwick Blvd., based on his cousin’s fast-casual concept catering to Americans’ love of buffalo-style chicken wings.

But Lee likes to cook Korean food, so he added a Korean menu that could cater to both palates.

“I didn’t realize until I opened this restaurant, it was quite different than Richmond,” Lee said. “A lot of military-based people came in and were surprised we had Korean and bulgogi food. I realized they love Korean food.”

While the wings aren’t fried in the Korean style, Crave Wings offers Korean barbecue and spicy sauces, among a variety of others, Lee said.

Judith Lowery / Daily Press

An order of wings and fries. Andrew Lee has opened Crave Wings in Denbigh, a fast-casual restaurant that features a mix of American and Korean blended selections.

An order of wings and fries. Andrew Lee has opened Crave Wings in Denbigh, a fast-casual restaurant that features a mix of American and Korean blended selections. (Judith Lowery / Daily Press)

Crave Wings’ beef bulgogi rice bowl is one of its most popular items, Lee said. The menu includes spicy pork bulgogi, Korean-style deep-fried dumplings stuffed with either beef or pork and veggies, kimchi and pickled garden jalapeno. There also are unique items like bacon cream cheese poppers, honey sriracha cheese sticks and a crab cake burger.

“We’re still growing and sales are growing,” Lee said. “We got a lot of fans now.”

Ann Marie’s Pub at 13756 Warwick Blvd. has been serving beef, chicken and pork bulgogi, bibimbap rice bowls topped with stir-fry beef and veggies, and bulgogi sub sandwiches since Tom and Sami Gonzales bought the restaurant two years ago, he said. Bulgogi thinly sliced meats are marinated in Korean flavors and grilled.

Bulgogi is essentially Korean barbecue, so it makes sense that the owners would launch the Bali Bali food truck that touts serving “Korean BBQ on the run” in November. The truck is an outlet for Sami Gonzales, who is Korean and enjoys making authentic Korean food, the husband said. Bali Bali can be found at local breweries and is a regular in the parking lot of the Fort Eustis Exchange, he said.

Judith Lowery / Daily Press

Andrew Lee has opened Crave Wings in Denbigh; the fast-casual restaurant features a mix of American and Korean blended selections.

Andrew Lee has opened Crave Wings in Denbigh; the fast-casual restaurant features a mix of American and Korean blended selections. (Judith Lowery / Daily Press)

Bali Bali is the only authentic Korean food truck on this side of Hampton Roads, he said. The truck also sells Korean crunchy fried sweet-and-spicy glazed wings.

Chic N Fish at 954 J. Clyde Morris Blvd. is famous for its Korean-style fried chicken and has customers who drive from South Hampton Roads and the Northern Virginia and D.C. area, said Moo Hwang, who operates the 8-year-old restaurant with wife Insoon Hwang. The wings come in soy garlic and hot and spicy flavors.

“They are crazy about the Korean fried chicken,” Moo Hwang said. “We have more of a reputation.”

Hot Wings at 13175 Jefferson Ave. recently remodeled after nearly 10 years of operation and sells buffalo-style wings along with Japanese sushi and Korean bulgogi, said owner Lisa Joo. The restaurant also has a private room for parties, including karaoke parties, she said.

Chill Out, the former Dairy Queen on Hampton Highway in York County owned by Daniel and Monica Kim, serves a bulgogi steak sub, staff said.

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